Angle attachment for dental handpieces



(Model.)

H. CASE & E. D. SHAW. ANGLE ATTACHMENT PoE. DENTAL EANDPIEOES. No.600,243.

Patented Mar. 8, 1898.

NNN" AMEN UNTTED STATES PATENT EEicE.

HENRY OASE AND EDMUND D. SHAW, OF GLOVERSVILLE, NEV YORK.

ANGLE ATTACHMENT FOR DENTAL HANDFIECES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 600,243, dated March 8,1898. Appiicaiioii filed Aprii 2, 1897. stanno. 630,454; (Model.)

act description.

This invention relates to what are commonly known as handpieces fordental engines, the same being the grip implement or device in which thebit or tool is secured and by which said bit or tool is manipulated inperforming dental work.

Ordinary handpieces have had the single capacity of holding the bit ortool in a straight line therewith; but there are handpieces in which thetool-socket has been constructed with the capacity of adjustment to anangle to the handpiece.

Our invention relates to dental han dpieces of the last-named variety;and our invention consists in a tool or bit socket for dental handpiecesjointed in such a manner as to be capable of being secured in a straightline with the handpiece and to be adjustedfrom such alinement at anangle to the longitudinal axis of the handpiece, together with means forsecuring the -bit or tool, and other structural features andcombinations thereof, all as we will proceed now more particularly toset forth and finally claim.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating our invention, in the severalfigures of which like parts are similarly designated, Figure l is a sideelevation of a handpiece embodying our invention and showing the tool orbit socket in its two extreme positions. Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsection on a greatly-enlarged scale. Fig. 3 is alongitudinal sectiontaken in the plane of line 3, Fig. 2, and at right angles to the planeof the section shown in said Fig. 2. Fig. l is a cross-section in theplane of line 4 4, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the socketend. Fig. 6 is a section similar to Fig. 3, but showing the gearing inelevation. Fig. 7 is a section taken in the plane of line 7 7, Fig. 5.Fig. 8 is a section illustrating the application of our socketpiece toan ordinary handpiece.

a is the shaft-spin dle, arranged in the casing Z), which latter isprovided with a screwthread h for connection with the ordinaryshaft-sheathing.

c is the grip or handle, and o is a screwthreaded joint for connectingthe casing and grip in a detachable manner.

CZ is the shell of our socket-piece, within which is supported thespindle e, said spindle being adapted to be connected with the spindle aby any suitable joint f. The shell d is provided with the jaws g g',partly open on one side (see Figs. 2 and 5) and closed on the otherside. Between these jaws is hung the tool or bit receiving device orsocket h by means of the screw-studs 'L' i. The socket is provided witha tubular projection h', which is constructed with the removable tip h2.Vithin the tubular projection 77. is arranged the chuck k, which isprovided near its bottom with a cross-pin 7c. The projection 7L' isprovided with a lever l, having a point Z', which engages a groove m inthe shank of the bit or tool m, the said shank, further more, having theforked end m2 to engage the pin la of the chuck 7c. The lever Z ispivoted in the tip h2 of projection h and in such manner as to havesuflicient play when lifted in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 2, tobecome disengaged from the groove m to allow the bit or tool to bewithdrawn.

As will be seen, the pivot of the lever is at right angles to the axisof the tool, and the lever therefore moves in the line of thrust of thetool. Hence the tool cannot work loose from its lever, and the leverlying in the longitudinal plane of the tool and handpiece cannot becomedetached in use. Were the pivot in line with the tool, and thelockinglever movable at right angles to the tool, the operation of thetool would tend to disturb thelocking-lever, especially after the jointhad become worn by use, and thus the security of the tool would beimpaired.

The socket is provided with a number of holes h3, which are adapted tobe engaged by,

a pin n on a spring-arm n', which is secured to the shell CZ by a screwn2. This spring n' is held in engagement with and released from thesocket by means of a rotary sleeve o, having an internal cam-surface ofor that purpose. By rotating the sleeve o its cam-surface depresses thespring n', so as to cause its IOO pin n to enter that hole in the socketh which is in register therewith, so as to hold the said socket rigidlyin any given angular position with relation to the handpiece, and byrotating the said sleeve in the oppositedirection the said spring isreleased and carries its pin out' of engagement with the socket topermit the vsocket to be given a new adjustment.

1 The adjustments of which the socket of the illustration is capableextend within an arc of ninety degrees, so that the said socket may bearranged with relation to the handpiece in a manner to bring the bit ortool in alinement with the said handpiece and from that position to aposition ninety degrees distant therefrom or any intermediate positionthe two extremes being illustrated, respectively, by full and dottedlines in Fig. l.

The rotarymotion of the driving shaft or spindle d is transmitted to thebit or tool by means of a train of gearing consisting of a bevel-pinionp on the end of spindle e, meshing with a bevel-and-spur wheel g, whichis supported upon the screw-stud r, the said bevel-and-spur wheelmeshing with a spurwheel s, which rotates on a projection s' of thesocket h, and the said spur-wheel s meshing with a matching toothedwheelt on the chuck k. By this means of gearing, the bitsocket h isgiven perfect freedom of movement for adjustment, and at thesame timethe bit is positively driven in whatever position its socket may bearranged.

The screw fr, in addition to performing the function of a support forthe wheel q, also serves to draw the jaws g g together and to assemblethe parts betweenthe said jaws in a compact manner. By removal of thisscrew r and the removal of the screws t t" the parts may be taken outfor inspection and repair and other purposes.

The shell d may be secured to the handpiece by means of a set-screw u,and a guidepin o or by any other suitable device.

In order to conceal the gearing, the movable socket is provided with ahinged cover w, which moves within the closed side of the head of theshell d between the jaws, the said cover being pivoted to the socket.

The jawsmay be provided with a wall or plate g2, and this plate closesthe cavity conktaining the gearing hereinbefore referred to.

Our invention is applicable to other forms l of handpieces-as, forinstance, that illustrated in Fig. 8, wherein the spindle e has its endslabbed off, as at e', for connection with the similar terminal of-'themotor-shaft-and we wish to be understood as not limiting our inventionto any particular form of handpiece. d

The modiiications already described and others obviously within ourinvention we tool socket pivoted or hinged at one end and' adapted to bemoved into a straight line with said handpiece and into any1 desirednumber rof angular positions with relation thereto, a

chuck arranged to rotate in said socket and provided with a toothedwheel, a tool carried by the chuck, a lever pivoted on said socket andextending lengthwise thereof, with its pivot at right angles to the axisof the tool, the said lever acting in the line of thrust of the tool andadapted to hold the tool in place in the socket, a driving-spindle, andanl interposed train of gearing for transmitting motion to the chuck,substantiallyas described.

2. In a dental handpiece, asocket-piece terminating in parallel jaws, abit or tool receiving device or socket pivoted between said jaws, andadapted to be moved into alinement with the longitudinal axis and alsoat an angle thereto, a tool-chuck arranged to rotate in said socket andprovided with a toothed gear, a tool or bit carried by said chuck, alever pivoted in said socket on a pin arranged transversely of thesocket, the length of the lever extending in the line of thrust of thetool to hold the tool in place in the socket, a driving-spindle, and aninterposed train of inclosed gearing for transmitting motion to thechuck, substantially as described.

3. A dental handpiece, having its bit or tool socket pivoted or hingedat one end and adapted to be moved into a straight line with saidhandpiece and into any desired number of angular positions with relationthereto, a chuck provided with a transverse pin at its bottom, andarranged to rotate in said socket and also provided with a toothedwheel, a tool or bit having a forked end to engage the pin in the chuckand a circumferential groove to be engaged by a locking-lever, a leverpivoted on said socket and extending lengthwise thereof Vwith its` pivotat right angles to the axis of the tool, the said lever engaging thecircumferential groove of the tool or bit and acting in the line ofthrust thereof and adapted to hold thev tool in place in the socket, adriving-spindle and an interposed train of gearing for transmittingmotion to the chuck, substantially as described.

4. A socket-piece for dental handpieces, having the jaws closed on oneside and partly closed on the other, a bit or tool receiving device orsocket, pivoted between and in said jaws, a rotary chuck within saidtool-socket, a toothed wheel thereon, a bit or tool carried by saidchuck, and having a forked end, a pin in said chuck to receive theforked end of the bit or tool, a lever pivoted on a transverse pin tothe bit-socket in the line of thrust and adapted to lock the bit in thesocket, a driving-spindle having a bevel-gear, and a train ofgear-wheels concealed within the socketpiece andconnecting saidbevelgear and chuck, substantially as described.

5. A socket-piece for dental handpieces, having a bit or tool socket,pivoted in its end and at right angles to its longitudinal axis, andadapted to be adjusted to bring the tool or bit into line with or at anangle to the hand- IIO Ivo

piece, a spring-detent to hold the said tool or bit socket in suchadjusted position and a rotary cam-sleeve for locking and releasing thedetent, substantially as described.

6. A tool or bit socket for dental handpieces, and a tool or bit carriedthereby, the tool-locking lever l pivoted in said socket on a transversepin, the operating member of which lever is arranged in a straight linewith the bit and its point Zarranged at right angles to the bit and inthe line of thrust, to hold the bit in position, substantially asdescribed.

7. A socket-piece for dental handpieces, having terminal jaws, a bit ortool socket, pivoted between said jaws, and a screw, as fr, passingtransversely through the jaws and adapted to adjust them, substantiallyas described.

8. A sooketpiece for dental handpieces, terminating in jaws, a bit ortool socket pivoted between the said jaws, gearing contained within thejaws for transmitting motion from the driving-spindle to the drivenshaft, and a cover w hinged to the bit or tool socket and movabletherewith and covering in the gearin g, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands this lst day ofApril, A. D. 1897 HENRY CASE. EDMUND D. SHAW. Witnesses:

JAMES I-I. DRURY, GEORGE H. SIMPSON.

